A'S NOTEBOOK / Thomas' agent optimistic DH will return to A's

Published 4:00 am, Saturday, September 9, 2006

2006-09-09 04:00:00 PDT St. Petersburg, Fla. -- Frank Thomas' monster home runs are becoming a habitual part of the Oakland offense -- he banged another one Friday -- and over the next week or two, agent Arn Tellem and A's general manager Billy Beane will be working to keep Thomas' bat in the lineup for at least one more year and maybe beyond.

"We'll be having some discussions," said Tellem, who met with Beane last week in Oakland. "I'm optimistic that we can do something. We should be able to. (Owner) Lew Wolff and Billy are both extremely positive about the way Frank has come back and about the contributions he's made, and Frank has been really happy there, the best I've seen him, physically and mentally."

Tellem said he also mentioned to Beane the possibility of discussing Jason Kendall's contract this winter. Kendall has one more year remaining on his six-year, $60 million deal, and the A's are on the hook for about $8 million of the $13 million owed him in 2007, with the Pirates picking up the rest. The catcher would like to stay in Oakland and is amenable to reworking the deal, reducing the amount due him next season to facilitate an extension.

The main focus now, however, is Thomas, because he is not signed beyond this year.

"It's a tremendous fit, it's worked out for the A's and for Frank, a mutually beneficial relationship," Tellem said. "So it's incumbent on me and on Billy to make sure we find a way to keep it going."

Most of Thomas' peers -- top sluggers in his age range -- are making $10 million or more per year. That may be too rich for the A's budget, but with Thomas accepting so little guaranteed money this season ($500,000, with incentives, he'll make over $3 million) it might be difficult to make a second deal equally incentive laden. In addition, Thomas said he'd like a multiyear deal, but given his age (38) and injury history, one year and an option might be more likely.

Thomas clubbed his team-high 33rd homer, a two-run shot that traveled into the back section of seats in left, and he has played in 117 of 140 games.

"Frank is the most deserving person for Comeback Player of the Year, with what he went through," Tellem said of Thomas' ankle surgeries.

Briefly: Jason Windsor, who made two starts for Oakland in July and who went 17-2 in the minors this year, was added to give the team some additional pitching depth after Kirk Saarloos and Brad Halsey both worked three innings Tuesday. ... Reliever Kiko Calero flew back to the Bay Area to be with his wife, Carola, for the birth of his first child, a boy. ... Calero had had some shoulder soreness so wasn't expected to pitch for at least the first two days in St. Petersburg. ... Scott Sauerbeck and his wife, Carly, also welcomed a new baby Thursday, a girl named Georgia.